Artist transforms personal history into public art

In Jalisco, Mexico, José Rivelino Moreno Valle grew up steeped in Catholic tradition and raised primarily by his grandmother and female relatives while his parents migrated to the United States for work.

His early childhood in San José de Gracia contrasted sharply with the rough Mexico City neighborhood his family moved to when he was five, a transition marked by bullying and a speech impediment. Rivelino coped by becoming more assertive and found solace in assisting his photographer father.

He later pursued psychology, sparked by therapy that helped him overcome his stutter and fueled his interest in understanding human behaviour. Though he didn’t become a therapist, he specialized in body language and facial expression. Alongside his studies, Rivelino continued working with his hands, initially through painting and sculpture, eventually developing a unique style that incorporated found objects and explored spatial dimensions. An autoimmune infection that threatened his vision profoundly changed his art.

Facing potential blindness, Rivelino began creating tactile three-dimensional pieces meant to be experienced by touch, especially by people who are blind. Now, he focuses on representing absence and the pain of loss through his art, using damaged or discarded toys to confront viewers with social issues and difficult emotions. His work blends personal experience with social observation, demonstrating how art can give form to complex feelings.